Rajonance

The Maha Kumbh Mela witnessed its third ‘Amrit Snan’ on Monday, February 3, which coincided with Basant Panchami. This was the first holy bathing ritual since the tragic stampede on Mauni Amavasya, which claimed at least 30 lives and inured many. The government, in response to the disaster, put in pace stricter security measures and protocols to ensure a smooth and incident-free snan (bathing event). Mela authorities, along with akhara groups, carefully coordinated a sequence for spiritual sects to take their dips at Sangam Nose, the site of last week’s fatal crowd surge. As the third ‘Amrit Snan’ unfolded, seers from various akharas began their holy dip at daybreak. By 4 AM, an estimated 16.58 lakh devotees had participated, with the Uttar Pradesh government expecting the number to reach 5 crore by the end of the day. Basant Panchami, celebrated on the first day of spring, falls on the fifth day of Magha and is dedicated to Goddess Saraswati. The festival also marks the begin...

Chinese fast fashion app Shein has returned to India after five years, partnering with Reliance Retail under a long-term licensing deal. Though Reliance has not officially announced it, a company official  confirmed that Shein will sell Indian-manufactured and sourced products on its platform. Shein's re-entry comes with strict conditions, including storing all data within India, as stated by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal in December. The app was banned in 2020, along with TikTok and other Chinese apps, over data security concerns following border tensions between India and China. The app relaunched on Friday night, has already surpassed 10,000 downloads, and offers fashionwear starting at ₹199 ($2.30). Currently, deliveries are limited to Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, with nationwide expansion planned soon. Once a top fast fashion brand in India, Shein's absence created a gap that local brands filled. Experts believe Reliance Retail, owned by Mukesh Ambani, is using Shein ...

Today, February 1, 2025, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented India's annual budget, focusing on stimulating economic growth and providing relief to the middle class.  Key highlights of the budget include: Income Tax Reforms The income tax exemption threshold has been raised to ₹1.2 million (₹12 lakh) per annum, up from ₹700,000, offering significant relief to middle-class taxpayers. Individuals earning ₹1.2 million annually will benefit from a tax reduction of ₹80,000. Agriculture and Farmer Support A six-year program has been launched to boost the production of pulses and cotton, aiming to reduce import dependence. The budget introduces a national mission to develop high-yielding seed varieties to address challenges from shrinking farmlands and erratic weather. Economic Growth and Fiscal Management The government projects a fiscal deficit reduction to 4.4% of GDP for the fiscal year 2025-26. Capital expend...